Wire-fence stretcher.



J. P. MATTOX.

WIRE FENCE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG-15.1916.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

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A? Mmmx I aflozmm l JESSE P. MATTOX, OF STILWELL, OKLAHOMA.

WIRE-FENCE STRETOHER.

Application filed August 15, 1916.

To all wiwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn P. MATTOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stilwell, in the-county of Adair, State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful ire-Fence Stretcher; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a device for stretching woven wire fencing, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the wire fencing can be tightly gripped at any point in the length thereof and effectively stretched to remove all looseness or sagging therefrom.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be applied without difiiculty to woven wire fencing at any point in the length thereof, which will not injure the fencing, and which stretches the fencing uniformly at both the top and bottom thereof.

W ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

F or a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which z- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire fence stretcher constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamping bars.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other clamping bar.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the pull rods and the associated clamping rod.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the nu meral l designates a length of woven wire fencing which is to be properly stretched before being secured to the fence post 2. This Specification of Letters Patent.

, tween the Patented Apr. 24., 1917. Serial No. 115,075.

woven wire fencing l is gripped between a pair of complemental upright bars 3 which are applied to the fencing from opposite sides thereof, the gripping face of one of the bars being formed with a longitudinal rib 3, while the gripping face of the opposite bar is provided with a corresponding longitudinal groove 3 This construction admits of a firm grip being obtained upon the fencing. v

WVire straps 4 extend around the outer sides and edges of the gripping bars 3, being secured thereto by suitable fastening members such as the staples 5. At the rear edges of the gripping bars3, the wire straps 4 of one of the gripping members terminate in eyes 6, while the wire straps of the opposite gripping member terminate in hooks 7, said hooks being adapted to engage the eyes to provide a detachable hinge connection between the gripping bars. The wire straps 4 are spaced in a manner corresponding ap proximately to the meshes of the fencing 1, being closer together at the bottom of the gripping bars than at the upper ends there of. lVith this construction it will be obvious that the gripping bars can be applied to a length of wire fencing from opposite sides thereof and the hooks 7 inserted through the meshes of the wire fencing and brought into engagement with the eyes 6, thereby producing a pivotal connection be gripping bars, preparatory to forcing them into a tight engagement with the wire fencing.

The outer faces of the gripping bars 3 are provided at suitable points toward the up per and lower ends thereof with bearing plates 8, one set of bearing plates being adapted to engage pull rods 9, while the opposite set of bearing plates engage cooperating clamping rods 10 which have a cam action with the pull rods and cooperate therewith to force the gripping jaws toward each other. The rear end of each pull rod 9 is offset inwardly at 9 and terminates in an eye 11 to which a cable 12 or the like may be attached, while the forward end of the pull rod is provided with an elongated loop 13 and terminates in an outwardly projecting guide eye 14:. The clamping rods 10 are arranged upon the opposite side of the gripping bars 3. The rear end of each clamping rod terminates in a guide ring 15 which is slidable upon the pull rod 9, While the forthe clamping rods laterally at 10 and termlnates in an inclined finger 16. When the pull rod 9 is pushed forwardly the inclined finger 16 is drawn out of the guide eye 1A thereof, thereby enabling the ends of the pull rod and clamping rod to be swung apart. When thus separated the pull rods and clamping rods can be applied to the gripping bars 3, after which the rods are swung together, the inclined fingers 16 of the clamping rods 10 positioned within the loops 13 of the pull rods 9, and the extremities of the said fingers 16 inserted through the guide eyes 14:. The pull for stretching the fencing is applied to the rear end of the pull rod 9, and as these rods are drawn rearwardly the guide eyes 14: thereof slide upon the inclined fingers 16 of 10. This results in a cam action which forces the looped ends 13 of the pull rods toward the clamping rods 10, thereby causing the said rods to swing the gripping bars 3 toward each other and into a firm engagement with the wire fencing. In this connection it will be noted that the gripping bars are assembled with the hinged edges thereof facing rearwardly or in the direction from which the fence is to be stretched, thereby enabling the swinging edges of the gripping bars to be most effectively engaged and forced together by the cam action of the cooperating pull rods 9 and clamping rods 10.

Any suitable source of power may be provided for exerting a strong pull upon the pull rods 9. In the present instance the eyes 11 at the extremities of the offset rear ends 9* of the pullrods 9 are shown as connected by a cable 12, said cable being engaged by a conventional form of block and tackle 17. A powerful pull is thus exerted upon the rods 9 for stretching the fencing 1, and owing to the cam action between the rods 9 and clamping rods 10 it will be obvious that the stronger the pull, the more firmly the gripping jaws 3 will be forced together. After the present portion of wire fencing 1 has been stretched and properly nailed or otherwise secured to the fence post 2, the

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the device can be removed from the wire fencing and subsequently used for stretching another portion thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for stretching woven wire fencing, including a' pair of complemental gripping bars adapted to be applied to the fencing from oppositesides thereof, a pull rod extending along one side of the gripping bars and provided with a guide eye, a cooperating clamping rod arranged on the 0pposite side of the gripping bars, one end of the clamping rod slidably engaging the pull rod while the opposite end thereof is provided with an inclined finger which is slidable within the guide eye of the pull rod and cooperates therewith to forcibly move the rods mto engagement with the gripping bars when a pull is exerted upon the pull rod, and means for exerting a pull upon the pull rod.

2. A device for stretching woven wire fencing, including a pair of complemental gripping bars adapted to be applied to the fencing from opposite sides thereof, a pull rod extending along one side of the gripping bars and provided at the forward end thereof with a longitudinally extending loop and a laterally projecting guide eye, a clamping rod arranged upon the opposite side of the gripping bars, the rear end of the clamping rod slidably engaging the pull rod, while the forward end thereof is extended laterally and terminates in a forwardly inclined finer insertible laterally through the loop ofthe pull rod and adapted to engage the guide eye of the pull rod for cooperation therewith to forcibly move the rods into engagement with the gripping bars when a pull is exerted upon the pull rod, and means for exerting a pull upon the pull rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSE P. MATTOX; I Witnesses:

PEROIVAL ADAMs, JEROME MGGARTY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

